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The report has been requested by numerous state and federal agencies and by <br />biologists in Canada. An annotated bibliography on environmental effects of <br />hydroelectric operations was also produced (29). This information has been used <br />extensively by Montana Power Company and MTFWP and has received wide <br />circulation through requests from FWS, power companies and states. This study <br />is an example of the unique research role of the Unit. MPC did not trust MTFWP <br />to do the research, and vice - versa; and MTFWP and Trout Unlimited were <br />opposed to outside consultants.. All parties agreed the Unit had the expertise and <br />would provide a credible evaluation of the situation. <br />A study requested by state cooperators to examine apparent rainbow trout <br />recruitment problems in the Bighorn River (MS thesis) resulted in the <br />documentation of a much more serious gas supersaturation problem than <br />previously believed. (Poster 115th AFS meeting) Because of the national <br />importance of this fishery, White and state cooperators approached the Bureau of <br />Reclamation for funds to conduct research on the relationships between reservoir <br />operations, flows and other ambient conditions on gas supersaturation levels and <br />the river biota. This four -year effort provided the most comprehensive field <br />evaluation of this problem conducted to date. Results have increased our <br />understanding of the relationships between operation and design of dams and gas <br />bubble trauma in fish and invertebrates. Innovative approaches to evaluation of <br />trout habitat use related to dissolved gas levels were developed; bioassay <br />apparatus and techniques were designed to provide data to be used to clarify <br />relationships observed in the river; and a fish physiology student (PhD) of Dr. Dave <br />Randall, University of British Columhia, .1,vas brought in to examine physiology of <br />gas bubble trauma in trout. Findings have been used to modify spill pattern from <br />the dam and the gas bubble trauma problem has been greatly reduced. Results <br />have been presented in one PhD and 3 MS theses, at the 119th Annual rAFS <br />Meeting (one paper), at the Montana Chapter AFS Meeting (4 papers), at the Wild <br />Trout IV Symposium (13), at the 1988 Fish Marking Symposium (11), and a draft <br />manuscript has been prepared (64) on fish bioassay tests. <br />White's expertise in hydropower issues was recognized in 1983 when he was <br />invited to present a paper at the 113th Annual Meeting AFS on "Predicting effects <br />of fluctuating flows on fish and aquatic macroinvertebrates." His interest and <br />background in hydropower issues led him in 1981 to recommend that the Western <br />Division AFS sponsor a symposium on small hydropower and fisheries. (7) The <br />Division supported the idea and asked the Bioengineering Section to take the lead. <br />In 1983 White was appointed Symposium Chair and one of three technical editors. <br />The symposium was a major contribution to fisheries protection related to small <br />hydropower development. <br />all <br />